About This Quiz

Put your hands up and reach for the sky!

An integral part of American history, the Wild West has been immortalized in films since the inception of Hollywood. Even during the era of silent movies, westerns were a constant theme with moviegoers flocking to see how stars of the time dealt with their daily problems.

Many of Hollywood's finest actors began their careers in the western genre before moving onto other themes.

Some, like a certain famous singing cowboy, made the western genre their home for much of their career while others made their names in westerns, only to return later in life to grab an Oscar (or two) when they re-explored the genre.

Now, the all-important question is... do you think you can identify these cowboys, some modern and some of yesteryear? Many are easily recognized, having played major roles in other Hollywood movies. Some, however, might leave you scratching your head in contemplation. But rest assured, each and every cowboy in this quiz is a legend.

It's time to put your thinking hat on, saddle up your trusty steed, load your six-shooter and prepare for close encounters with these famed cowboys so take a walk on the wild side and take this quiz!

The greatest cowboy of them all, John Wayne appeared in 177 movies, many of them westerns. Wayne is certainly the most famous actor of the cowboy generation. He won an Oscar in 1970 for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn in True Grit.

Roy Rogers and his horse, Trigger, are one of the most well-known pairs in Hollywood western history. Rogers, known as the singing cowboy, started his career in 1936 and ended with more than 100 acting credits to his name.

Val Kilmer's most famous western role was as Doc Holliday in 1992's "Tombstone." This versatile Hollywood actor has also appeared in a western TV series, "Commanche Moon," as well as 2012's "Wyatt Earp's Revenge."

Another Hollywood western star, Randolph Scott was hugely popular in the 1950s where he appeared in a number of Budd Boetticher movies. At the height of his fame, Scott retired from the Hollywood game and spent the rest of his life avoiding the limelight.

Known for his measured and deliberate delivery of lines, Garry Cooper was a western icon. He appeared in two adaptions of Ernest Hemingway novels, "A Farewell to Arms" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Cooper started in the silent movie era and had appeared as a leading man in 84 films at the time of his death in 1961.

Lee van Cleef always seemed to be cast as the villain in his movie roles, including in western classics such as, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance," "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and "For a Few Dollars More."

A very versatile actor, Kirk Douglas was very good friends with Burt Lancaster and appeared with him in the 1957 western classic, "The Gunfight At OK Corral." Other westerns starring Douglas included "Along the Great Divide," "The Big Sky" and "Last Train from Gun Hill."

Glen Ford's promising early career was interrupted by World War II. In the 1950s, he starred in a number of classics, including "The Big Heat" and "Blackboard Jungle." He also starred in many westerns, including "3:10 to Yuma" and "The Rounders."

James Stewart had starred in many Hollywood movies before World War II. During the war, he famously served in the U.S. Air Force, flying bombing missions over Germany. It was on his return to Hollywood that his career in westerns took off with Stewart starring in some classics, including "The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance".

The ever-popular Sam Elliott made his film debut in the classic western, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." He went on to feature in many Hollywood roles as well as TV series and films, including the westerns, "The Shadow Riders" and "Yellow Rose".

Although lambasted by critics for being just a good looking leading man with no acting chops in his first few movies, Robert Taylor soon showed that he could indeed act. He went on to star in many westerns, including as Billy the Kid in the 1941 movie of the same name.

Clint Eastwood first made his mark in the western genre as Rowdy Yates on the show "Rawhide", but was catapulted to international stardom by Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy. He has both starred in and directed a number of additional westerns throughout his life, including but not limited to "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "The Unforgiven".

Rock Hudson was a prominent Hollywood actor from the 1950s to the 1970s. He acted in a range of movies, including many westerns at the beginning of his career, including "The Undefeated" with John Wayne in 1969.

Appearing in more than 100 films and certainly one of the most recognizable leading men to come out of Hollywood, Charlton Heston appeared in a number of Hollywood classics and took on legendary roles such as Moses in "The Ten Commandments." He also acted in westerns including "The Last Hard Men" and "The Mountain Men".

Ben Johnson spent much of his early career as a double for many of Hollywood's greatest western actors, including John Wayne. His big break came in 1950 when John Ford cast him in "Wagon Master", Johnson went on to act in more than 300 movies.

One of the earliest Hollywood cowboys, Tom Mix started out as a member of various Wild West shows before shooting his first movie, "Ranch Life in the Great Southwest", in 1910. He also starred in many movies after this along with his horse, Tony.

Henry Fonda started his acting career on Broadway before moving to Hollywood in the 1930s. Although Fonda starred in many different genres, westerns were ever-present throughout his career. He is remembered for the particular gait he used during his western scenes.

Joel McCrea wanted to star in westerns but in the first few years of his Hollywood career, a part in them continued to elude him. When he was eventually cast, he went on to become one of Hollywood's great western actors. Perhaps his greatest appearance was in the Sam Peckinpah classic, "Ride the High Country" in 1962 with Randolph Scott.

One of Hollywood's best-loved leading men, Steven McQueen is known for classics such as "Bullit" and "The Great Escape." It was a role in the western, "The Magnificient Seven," in 1960, that really brought McQueen to the attention of the movie-going public.

Towards the end of his career, Dale Robertson appeared in a number of classic soap operas, including "Dynasty" and "Dallas". He made his name, however, in the 1950s in the TV series, "Tales of Wells Fargo", that aired for 201 episodes. Robertson was the fourth and final host of the anthology series "Death Valley Days" from 1968 to 1970,

After studying acting and then having a few minor parts in small westerns, James Coburn got his big break starring in the 1960's with a role in "The Magnificent Seven". He went on to star in many more, including Sam Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett" and "Billy the Kid".

Another singing cowboy, Gene Autry was very popular in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s and starred in many westerns. He is also responsible for writing some well know songs, including, "Here Comes Santa Claus". From 1950 through 1956 he hosted "The Gene Autry Show" television series.

Brian Kieth had his first acting role at the age of 3. After World War II, in which he served, his acting career grew with many a role in a range of movies and westerns, such as "The Violent Men" and "Run of the Arrow".

Ward Bond started out his acting career as a lowly extra before legendary director John Ford gave him a starring role in 1929's, "Salute". He went on to appear in many more Ford movies, often with John Wayne. He ended his career with 273 acting credits. Among his most notable roles are Bert, the cop in "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) and Captain Clayton in John Ford's "The Searchers".

The swashbuckling Errol Flynn was a Hollywood favorite in the 1930s and 1940s. Although he acted in many action roles, his westerns included "Dodge City," "They Died With Their Boots On" and "Sante Fe Trail".

Richard Boone first started his acting career appearing in plays with occasional work in television. He made his first feature film in 1951 and quickly followed it up with numerous others, including many in the western genre. He famously starred in the TV series "Have Gun – Will Travel".

Eric Fleming's movie career was struggling when he landed the role of trail boss Gil Favor in the 1960s western television show, "Rawhide". He starred on the show for seven seasons alongside Clint Eastwood, who was only 30 at the time.